Thursday, May 26, 2011

Utica BoilerMaker 10 Miler

So,I think I was more apprehensive clicking the 'submit' for this race than I was bookingmy Coast 2 Coast hike. Somehow in my twisted little mind 190 miles walking is easier than 10miles running. Of course this is preposterous, and with a click of a mouse I signed up forUtica's Boilermaker 15K in July.

It's not that I do not think I can do it. I just hate running. I don't really know why. I enjoy theruns on the hashses I do, however I think it's because its a group activity. So after thisstatement any rational human would say "Ok Melissa, then just run in a group?" Yet I do not find that appealing either-- so I suppose its the beer at the hashes I keep coming back for? :)

Anyways the boilermaker in Utica is (according to Wikipedia) one of the largest 15k runs inthe United States (at least I will always be running with a group!). That however, was not what possessed me to sign up. It was the after-party. It has also been touted as one of the best post-run afterparties in the country (considering how small Utica is that is impressive), thanks to the 6,500 volunteers who help keep everything running. 6,500 is roughly half of the registered 15k runnners. Impressive!The post-after party is sponsored by Matt Brewing company (also known as Saranac). This excites me for many reasons. The main one being I miss craft breweries (sorry Germany) and the United States excels in this category. It is also one of the oldest craft breweries in the United States, so they must be doing something right. It's location (the foot of the Adirondacks), also makes me happy, as forests and mountains make me feel at home.

This will make my German friends happy: "After working at the Duke of Baden Brewery of the Black Forest region in Baden, Germany, Francis Xavier Matt I immigrated to the United States in 1880. Matt worked at the Charles Bierbaur Brewery as lead salesman and brewmaster in Utica for a few years before reorganizing it into The West End Brewing Company in 1888." REDEEMED.

I am slightly nervous (once again so strange) about running a 15k, but after the Coast 2 CoastI feel like I have a decent shot of at least finishing the run in a decent time. I hope tobe constantly running-- even if it is slowly.

If anyone else is going and would like to meet up-- just shoot me a message and we will see what we can do!